Message topic: God’s plan versus man’s plan
Scripture text: Luke 12:16-23.
One of the many things which mankind has been doing down through the ages, is to be making plans for the future. Now the question is, why is it so important to have plan for the future?
It’s important to plan for the future for a variety of reasons, including: ensures you’re prepared: creating a plan for the future can help you take the necessary steps to manage anything you encounter, such as financial issues, and disasters in the future.
Having plans allows you to have and reach goals: planning for the future can allow you to set goals and take the proper steps to reach them within a specific timeframe.
Having plans will keep you motivated: knowing you have a set plan for the future, can inspire you to keep working hard to reach your goals.
Having plans can allows financial stability: Preparing a budget and adhere to it, can help you accomplish your goals. It will help to be in control of your life: having a set plan you’re following will benefit your future and can allow you to take better control over your life and the steps you take in pursuit of your goals. It is good to have plans.
From our scripture text, we gather that there was a wise man who made a wise plan for his future which paid off well for him: So he came to this conclusion: this will I do; I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I stow all my fruits and my goods.
Then I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provides? So is he that Laith up treasures for himself, and is not rich towards God. If God is not in our plans, then we have nothing.
Do you remember the reasons listed why you should have plans for the future? They are to have and reach goals: to keep you motivated: allows financial stability: and to help you be in control of your life, there was nothing about giving of one’s self to God who is in control of all things. We need God in all that we do.
Listen to this message conveyed to us through Paul `in Romans 8; 18-25: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope. That the creation itself will be liberated from bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits
of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
We find these words in Proverbs 19: 20-21; hear council, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end: there are many devices in a man’s heart nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
We should trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
I believe that Paul believes that this is true and has this to say in Romans 15: 13: now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.
There is no hope for mankind when we make plans for the future which does not put God ahead of all our plans, without Him we have nothing.
Listen to these instructions which has been passed down to us as believers in Christ Jesus: now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates, we do not need to write to you: for you know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
While people are saying, peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pain on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this should surprise you like a thief.
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
We have been told of a deluge that is to come which is far greater than the flood in the days Nosh or in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the days of Noah, only he and his family were saved of all the people that was in the world. we also learned that only Lot, his wife and his two daughters escapes the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah but his wife became a pillow of salt as her plans was not to leave all she had in Sodom.
We do not have the sure answer as to how long this present world is in existence, some says it is between two and four thousand years, and we do not know how long Adam and Eve lived on the earth before they sinned and needed to repent before they can once again enter and live in the presence of God forever.
We do believe that all mankind today are descendance of Adam and Eve, who had fallen short of continuing to live in the presence of a Righteous and Holy God, so we also needed to know how to repent of our sins.
Two thousand years ago God sent His sinless son into the world to show all mankind what is required of us to regain a sinless status so we can enter the presence of God. We find these words in John (3: 16:) for God so loved the world, mankind, that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever will believe in Him shall be redeemed and have everlasting life in the presence of the All Mighty one.
Jesue came and paid the penalty of death for all mankind, we need to make plans to enter the presence of God: are we adhering to the teachings of Jesus? What are the plans which we are making that He will find us worthy to take us to His father and say to Him, this is one for whom I died. Our plans should be to follow Jesus all the way which leads to the Father’s kingdom.